Page 32 - Internal Auditor M.E. (English) - June 2018

audit expectations TO cOMMenT on the article,
eMail the author at Hazem1965@gmail.com

By: Hazem Saleem Editor: Ayman Abdel Rahim
Why stakeholders do not

meet the Expectations

of Internal Audit

The title may seem weird or shocking Tips to improve
at first glance. Recently, there are many stakeholders’
discussions about how internal audit could
meet the expectation of stakeholders. This maturity
subject was discussed from all aspects In fact, the role of
in many articles, studies, workshops, internal audit in large urge them to transfer the knowledge
researches and publications. Moreover, organizations is just as important as, if and experience gained from these
various questionnaires were developed to not more important than, that of other workshops to other managerial
measure the satisfaction of stakeholders organizational units. Because its role levels. Further, emphasize that joint
with the performance of internal audit is primarily related to improving the cooperation between internal audit
and its role in achieving the objectives of operations and enhancing the internal and other units will bear fruit and
the organization, improving its operations control, risk management and governance benefit the organization and enhance
and enhancing the control and risk practices that governs the operations and its reputation.
management practices. management of these units. Therefore, 4- Raising awareness of role of internal
considering its role as inferior reflects audit in the event of any fundamental
But on the other hand, these studies, the lack of accurate understanding of changes that lead to change in
articles and researches did not address the this role. Below are some tips to improve stakeholder members.
subject from the other party perspective stakeholders’ maturity for understanding
with the same degree of interest, how the vital role of internal audit: 5- Demonstrating the importance
can stakeholders meet the expectations of engaging the internal audit
of internal audit and achieve the level of 1- Periodically clarify the role of internal in providing consultations that
maturity required to understand the role of audit and demonstrate its importance contribute to support the role of
internal audit. in complementing the role of other organizational units. This will
organizational units toward improving ultimately results in exchanging
Wrong impression about the operations and support the internal experiences and improve the level
role of internal audit control system, risk management and of work. Hence, we find nothing to
governance.
prevent presence of internal audit
The continuous and ongoing discussion of 2- Promoting the work and efforts as observers in the committees and
how internal audit meets the expectation of of internal audit by continuously different teams, targeting specific
stakeholders may give a wrong impression introducing the internal auditing tasks, without prejudice to the
about the internal audit in comparison approach and confirming that independence and objectivity.
with other units within the organization. internal audit activities are carried This is part of a whole, the subject has
This wrong impression is resulting from out in accordance with standards, more implications , and it may need many
the need of internal audit to continuously procedures and scientific methods. articles and ideas in order to be addressed
justify the reasons for its existence and the Further, emphasize the independence from different perspectives. However, at the
importance of its work to achieve the same of its role from the rest of other units end, if we realize that there is one goal with
objectives as other organizational units as within the organization by providing one common interest and that there is one
if these units seek to achieve aspirations objective recommendations, which team, not two, each performs its role
and objectives that are not recognized or contributes to strengthening control in a different way, that would contribute
matched by the internal audit efforts. In and risk management and helps to significantly in harmonizing the work
addition, some of these units may consider achieve objectives of organization. performance, increase effectiveness of
the internal audit efforts as obstacles to 3- Conducting periodic workshops for internal audit and achieve stakeholders’
their work, which may impact stakeholders top management to increase the level satisfaction.
and thus affect the level of stakeholders’ of knowledge maturity of internal
satisfaction of internal audit work. audit work and its importance and Hazem Saleem

30 INTERNAL AUDITOR - MIDDLE EAST JUNE 2018